San Francisco Opera invites you and your family to attend FREE screenings of our Opera-in-an-Hour Movies presented throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. To learn about where you can catch a screening of our family friendly operas, click here.

Gioachino Rossini's comic and musical masterpiece, TheBarber of Seville has long been a favorite of opera aficionados and novices. This opera has frequently made its way into television, movies, and commercials, so whether or not you've ever been to the opera house, you've surely heard a tune or two from The Barber of Seville.

With an ever fresh storyline that could be straight of a Hollywood romantic comedy and a magnificent score that includes a gorgeous overture and Figaro’s famous aria “Largo Al Factotum”, it’s no wonder that this piece continues to appear again and again in so many mediums.

We're excited to welcome Daniel Knapp, our new Director of Production, to the San Francisco Opera family. We had the opportunity to sit down and ask him a few questions about his career in opera and his new home in San Francisco! Enjoy!

In writing Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Wagner turned to Johann Christoph Wagenseil’s 1697 historical study, Buch von der Meister-Singer holdseligen Kunst Anfang (Book of the Mastersingers’ Fair Art), for the basis of his libretto. He even used the names of real Nuremberg master singers, the titles of actual songs, the rules for song competitions, the list of mistakes/penalties and various technical expressions in and throughout his opera.

One of the most striking moments from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, however, was based on an early masterwork from Wagner's own cannon—Tristan und Isolde...

Matthew Stump is a first year Adler Fellow from Goshen, Indiana. He holds a Bachelors degree from Luther College, and also studied at the University of North Texas before joining San Francisco Opera. Learn more about Matthew's hobbies, aspirations, and his insights regarding the opera industry, as well as some sincere advice for young singers. Catch Matthew singing with fellow Adler Fellows Jacqueline Piccolino, Zanda Svede, and Chong Wang in a Schwabacher Debut Recital on March 15th with renowned coach and pianist, Martin Katz.

Over the last few years, we've asked some of our artists the same question: "Describe your first onstage Opera Kiss." Their responses were vastly different. Many of the stories were funny, some were sweet, and some couldn't even remember! From this 'study in Opera Kiss' we've learned at least one thing—Opera brings people together. And what better way to celebrate the holiday of love, than with a little #OperaLove of our own. Happy Valentine's Day from San Francisco Opera!

Introduction

Backstage at San Francisco Opera is a fascinating, fast-moving, mysterious and sacred space for the Company’s singers, musicians, dancers, technicians and production crews. Musical and staging rehearsals are on-going, scenery is loaded in and taken out, lighting cues are set, costumes and wigs are moved around and everything is made ready to receive the audience. From the principal singers, chorus and orchestra musicians to the creative teams for each opera, in addition to the many talented folks who don’t take a bow on stage, this blog offers unique insight, both thought-provoking and light-hearted, into the life backstage at San Francisco Opera.